6 May 2018: For Immediate Release – Great Kauri Run a huge success

Six hours and 24 minutes is the phenomenal time that it took Japan-based kiwi Richard Coghlan to tackle 70km of challenging Coromandel Peninsula terrain on the Great Kauri Run held yesterday.

A field of 280 runners took on the challenge in disciplines of a 76km Ultra Run, a 32km Kauri Classic, a 23km Kauri Half Marathon and 12km Kauri Loop on Saturday 5 May.

A 5km Fun Run was also held in Coromandel Town – the finishing point for all divisions.

Organisers, the Spirit of Coromandel Trust, say the event drew excellent numbers including more female competitors than any of the dozens of events organised by the trust, which also hosts the Flight Centre K2 Cycle Classic in October and ARC Adventure Race in February.

“This is our 69th event and the first time we’ve had more women in an event than men,” says co-organiser Andy Reid.

The Trust is raising funds to establish a youth outdoor pursuits centre on the Coromandel. The Great Kauri Run is also helping to re-establish depleted kauri forests, since every entrant receives a kauri seedling that will be planted by volunteers in June.

So far more than 3000 kauri trees have been planted, with a goal of planting 10,000 trees along the 32km Coromandel Town ‘Success Track’ which comprises part of the course.

Ultra runner Richard Coghlan - who lives in Japan – took out the event ahead of Coast 2 Coast winner Sam Clarke of Whakatane, competing in the Open Men’s division and finishing with a time of 7:06:11. In 3rd was Mike Jolie of Auckland 7:13:58, and 4th Timothy Pickering Rotorua in 7:34:12.

The women’s field was won by Courtney Pratt of Mount Maunganui in 7:41:29 followed by Sue Crowley of Rotorua in 7:55:39 and Merrily Harris also of Rotorua in 8:12:24. Numerous competitors were entered from the Rotorua Running Club who performed well.

For the 32km Kauri Classic it was Matthew McDougall of Whitianga winning in 3:11:44, Matt Simpson of Stratford in 3:19:22 in 2nd and Michael Mitchell of Whakatiwai in 3rd place with 3:3:39. Fourth was Tim Cochraine of Rotorua in 3:24:04.

The women’s event placegetters were Maureen Stachowich France 3:38:57, Roisin McQuillan of Matamata 3:47:40, Sally Cory, of Wellington, 4:04:01 and Georgie Griffiths, Rotorua, 4:15:53.

The Kauri Half was won by another local woman – Tairua’s Kirsty Law in a time of 2:43:42. Second was Rosemary Smart of Auckland in 2:44:58, 3rd was Trudie Assink of Papamoa in 2: 47:27 1 and 4th Elicia Milne, of Kaiaua, 2:48:46.

The men’s division was taken out by Damon Nicholas OpenMen 2:20:21; 2nd Gary Walden Auckland 2:21:19; 2nd Ben Leaker Coromandel 2:24:55 and Simon Lee Auckland 2:43:52.

In the 12km loop run, Hannah Gapes Rotorua 2 0:53:22, 2nd Michele Rogalin, Henderson, 1:09:00 1 2 3; Vivianne Bongard Hot Water Beach 1:10:26 and 4th Rebecca Jones Whakatane 1:13:28.

The Men’s division 12km was won by Keon Hall, Auckland, 0:53:16; 2nd Steve Wenzlick of Te Aroha 0:55:19, 3rd Rodney Poulgrain of Thames 1:00:20 and 4th Ian Mckee of Thames 1:05:00.

ENDS – note to editors:

Further information regarding The Spirit of Coromandel Trust is available on the web page www.arceventspirit.co.nz

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